[uucdigest]         Thursday, March 13 2003         Volume 03 : Number 6214



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In this BMW UUC Digest:

       [uuc] "BMW Group Improves Profit Before Tax to Euro 3,297 Million"
       Re: [uuc] Turner Motorsport Team Takes Sebring Pole Position
       Re: [uuc] Turner Motorsport Team Takes Sebring Pole Position
       Re: [uuc] Turner Motorsport Team Takes Sebring Pole Position
       [uuc] My repainted e36 pics
       Re: [uuc] Turner Motorsport Team Takes Sebring Pole Position

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Date: Thu, 13 Mar 2003 14:40:30 -0500
From: "Dennis Liu" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: [uuc] "BMW Group Improves Profit Before Tax to Euro 3,297 Million"

BMW Group Improves Profit Before Tax to Euro 3,297 Million

Thursday March 13, 12:31 pm ET

Net Profit for the Year in Excess of Euro 2,000 Million For the First Time
Ever
Dividend to be Proposed at Previous Year's Level

MUNICH, March 13 /PRNewswire/ -- The BMW Group continued to develop
successfully in 2002. The profit before tax (group profit from ordinary
activities) reached a new high of euro 3,297 million, a 1.7% improvement
over the previous year (2001: euro 3,242 million). The net profit for the
year increased by 8.3% to euro 2,020 million (2001: euro 1,866 million) and
surpassed the euro 2,000 million mark for the first time ever. The year 2002
was therefore the most successful year in the history of the BMW Group,
reflecting the underlying strength of the group during a phase of
substantial expenditure for the current product and market offensive.

All lines of business contributed to this performance. The profit from
ordinary activities of the Automobile segment amounted to euro 2,883
million, 3.3% higher than in the previous year (2001: euro 2,792 million).
After adjustment for a one-off gain of euro 75 million on the sale of land
no longer required for operational purposes, the previous year's figure was
euro 2,717 million, so that the improvement was 6.1% on a comparable basis.
The Motorcycles segment achieved an 1.7% increase and reported a profit from
ordinary activities of euro 60 million (2001: euro 59 million). The
Financial Services segment achieved a record profit from ordinary activities
of euro 422 million, an improvement of 8.2% over the previous year (euro 390
million).

Earnings per share were euro 3.00 (2001: euro 2.78) per share of common
stock and euro 3.02 per share of preferred stock (2001: euro 2.80). The
return on sales was 7.8% (2001: 8.4%).

The Board of Management and the Supervisory Board will propose to the Annual
General Meeting to use the unappropriated profit available for distribution
in BMW AG amounting to euro 351 million to pay a dividend on the equity
entitled to dividends (euro 622.2 million common stock and euro 50.6 million
preference stock, divided into shares with a nominal value of euro 1 each)
of euro 0.52 for each share of common stock and euro 0.54 for each share of
preferred stock, both unchanged from the previous year.

The number of vehicles delivered to customers increased in 2002 by 16.7% to
1,057,344 units (2001: 905,657 units), the first time that more than one
million BMW and MINI cars have been delivered to customers in a single year.

Revenues increased in all segments

The BMW Group generated total revenues of euro 42,282 million in 2002,
representing a growth of 9.9% and also a new record figure (2001: euro
38,463 million). Revenues of the Automobile segment increased by 13.8% to
euro 38,179 million (2001: euro 33,542 million). Revenues of the Motorcycles
segment rose by 6.7% auf euro 1,130 million (2001: euro 1,059 million). The
Financial Services segment achieved a 9.3% increase and reported revenues of
euro 8,213 million (2001: 7,514 million).

Over one million cars manufactured

The BMW Group again increased automobile production in 2002 and, with
1,090,258 vehicles (2001: 946,730) manufactured, exceeded the previous year
by 15.2%. This includes 930,221 BMW cars manufactured in the plants in
Munich, Dingolfing, Regensburg, Spartanburg and Rosslyn as well as at the
group's assembly plants, 2.9% more than in the previous year. In addition,
160,037 MINI brand cars were manufactured at the Oxford plant (2001:
42,395).

Capital expenditure increased significantly

In 2002, the BMW Group invested euro 3,184 million in property, plant and
equipment and intangible assets. In addition, euro 858 million of
expenditure for development have been recognised as assets in accordance
with IAS, so that total capital expenditure amounted to euro 4,042 million
(2001: 3,516 million), an increase of 15.0% compared to the previous year.

Worldwide increase in sales volumes

The BMW Group was able to increase its market share again in virtually all
of the main automobile markets. The market with the largest sales volume
continued to be Germany, where the BMW Group sold 258,170 cars (+5.0%) and
again performed well within an overall declining market. Sales in other
Western European countries climbed to 368,878 BMW and MINI brand cars, an
increase of 19.7% compared to the previous year. The BMW Group was largely
unaffected by the mainly negative trends in East European countries and
achieved satisfying growth rates there. The BMW Group experienced its most
successful year ever in the North American market. The number of cars sold
by the BMW Group in the USA in 2002 increased by 20.4% to 256,622 units. The
BMW Group is also still on growth course in Asia, where the sales volume
increased by 28.4% to 78,436 units. In Japan, the BMW Group increased the
sales volume by 26.3% to 45,275 units. Sales of the BMW Group on the rapidly
growing Chinese market rose by 41.4% to 15,473 units. Another Asian market
with above-average growth rates in 2002 was South Korea, where the BMW Group
sold 5,101 cars and thus achieved a growth rate of 87.7%.

BMW brand above previous year's record

The number of BMW brand cars sold increased by 3.7% to 913,225 units. Sales
of the BMW 3 Series, with its five versions, rose to 561,249 units, a 5.1%
increase compared to the previous year. The BMW 5 Series achieved an
above-average performance in relation to its product life cycle. Sales of
172,323 vehicles in 2002 were only 11.1% below the previous years level.
Sales of the BMW X5 also performed well. On a worldwide basis, 100,906 units
were sold, an increase of 22.1%. Demand for the new BMW 7 Series remains
strong. In the first year after the model change, a total of 50,961 vehicles
was sold. The sales volume of the new BMW 7 Series in the first full year of
production were approximately 4% better than that achieved by the
predecessor model in the equivalent period. In addition, 2,543 vehicles of
the BMW 7 Series predecessor model were sold, so that the total sales volume
of the 7 Series was 53,504 units.

BMW diesel models have become increasingly popular over the years: the
annual sales volume over the last five years has increased by more than 150%
and reached 245,917 units in 2002. On a worldwide basis, almost 27% of all
BMW cars delivered in 2002 were powered by diesel engines. In Europe, 45% of
all BMW customers chose a car with a diesel engine. In the case of the BMW
X5, the percentage in Europe stood at 67%.

MINI launched successfully on worldwide markets

With the MINI brand, the BMW Group has successfully established a market
position for a premium car in the small car sector. A total of 144,119 MINI
cars were sold worldwide in 2002, well beyond the expectations of the BMW
Group. Demand for the MINI shows a clear trend towards the more powerful
engine versions and optional equipment. The MINI Cooper leads the sales-mix
with a share of approximately 56% of MINI brand sales, followed by the MINI
One with nearly 26% and the MINI Cooper S, only available since the middle
of 2002, with more than 18%.

Further information will be available at the BMW Group Annual Accounts Press
Conference in Munich on March 19, 2003.

                      units/million           2002       2001      Change in
%

    Deliveries to customers
      Automobiles                        1,057,344    905,657
+16.7
       - BMW                               913,225    880,677
+3.7
       - MINI                              144,119     24,980
+476.9
      Motorcycles(1)                       103,020     95,327
+8.1
    Vehicle production
      Automobiles                        1,090,258    946,730
+15.2
       - BMW                               930,221    904,335
+2.9
       - MINI                              160,037     42,395
+277.5
      Motorcycles(1)                        97,553
           -2.7
    Revenues                                42,282     38,463
+9.9
    Thereof:
      Automobiles                           38,179     33,542
+13.8
      Motorcycles                            1,130      1,059
+6.7
      Financial services                     8,213      7,514
+9.3

iliations                       -5,240     -3,652            -43.5
    Profit before tax                        3,297      3,242
+1.7
    Thereof:
      Automobiles                            2,883      2,792
+3.3
      Motorcycles                               60         59
+1.7
      Financial services                       422        390
+8.2
      Reconciliations                          -68
           --
    Net profit for the year                  2,020      1,866
+8.3
    Earnings per share (common stock)    euro 3.00  euro 2.78
+7.9
    Earnings per share (preferred stock) euro 3.02  euro 2.80
+7.9
    Return on sales (%)                        7.8
           --
    Capital expenditure                      4,042      3,516
+15.0
    Workforce(2)                           101,395     96,263
+5.3


     (1)  including C1
     (2)  at 31 December 2002; before adjusting for disposals and transfers
of
          group companies, the figure was 97,275 at 31 December 2001.  The
          increase is thus 4,2%

- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
- ----
Source: The BMW Group of North America, LLC

------------------------------

Date: Thu, 13 Mar 2003 15:09:48 -0500
From: "James Moran" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: Re: [uuc] Turner Motorsport Team Takes Sebring Pole Position

Nice job Bill and congrats to the team.

Bill didn't qualify as well in the PTG M3 running in GT.  He is gridded 6th behind a
Z06, the two RS6s (which on paper look very fast), a Saleen SR351 (:0) and a 911
SuperCup car.  I think the M3's are going to have a tough time in GT.  They just
don't have the power.

Jim Moran
'88 M6

- ----- Original Message -----
From: "Rob Levinson * UUC Motorwerks" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>

> FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
>
> Turner Motorsport Team Takes Sebring Pole Position

------------------------------

Date: Thu, 13 Mar 2003 12:16:13 -0800
From: Mark Dadgar <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: Re: [uuc] Turner Motorsport Team Takes Sebring Pole Position

James Moran at [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
> Bill didn't qualify as well in the PTG M3 running in GT.  He is gridded 6th
> behind a Z06, the two RS6s (which on paper look very fast), a Saleen SR351
> (:0) and a 911 SuperCup car.  I think the M3's are going to have a tough time
> in GT.  They just don't have the power.

The RS6's are going to be a riot this year.  Big, long, heavy cars.  450 HP.
Quattro.  And Randy Pobst.  :)

- - Mark
- --
[EMAIL PROTECTED]

------------------------------

Date: Thu, 13 Mar 2003 15:30:42 -0500
From: ben keyes <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: Re: [uuc] Turner Motorsport Team Takes Sebring Pole Position

Mark Dadgar wrote:

> The RS6's are going to be a riot this year.  Big, long, heavy cars.  450 HP.
> Quattro.  And Randy Pobst.  :)

and automatic transmissions ?

Audi doesn't have a manual version of the car (never has except back to the old
days) so I wonder what they're putting in them.

I'm sure there is some sort of weight/power equlization that the SCCA tries to
maintain, but you wonder if the overdog status in years past at some venues for the
S4 might get them into a poor starting point in terms of weight for the RS6.  I
assume they're not running the S4 this year because the NA V8 production car isn't
an easily tuned turbo like the RS6 & they want to hype the RS6 a bit.  I guess it
would be sort of like BMW racing the M5, but they would have to put it on a serious
diet to make it light enough to be competitive.

it will be interesting to see how the M3's do, but I think Moran might be right -
not enough power to compete with the big boys.



Ben

------------------------------

Date: Thu, 13 Mar 2003 12:57:45 -0800 (PST)
From: Neil Deshpande <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: [uuc] My repainted e36 pics

Auriflex:

I am considering a black variant for a 944 paint
project.  Is this Midnight Blue a stock BMW color? 
Did the painter mention it was tougher to paint than a
solid/flat color?

I'm leaing towards the same Glanschwartz as my M5, but
I'd like to look around a bit before I hit the gun
this summer!

Neil Deshpande

***

"Auriflex" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Not sure if I already did this, but I had promised to
post some pics of my car after it had been repainted. 
It also has a new stereo etc.  Anyway the color scheme
is monochrome, and the color is a midnight blue.  
Basically black with a small amount of blue pearl.
<http://photos.yahoo.com/auriflexy>

------------------------------

Date: Thu, 13 Mar 2003 16:35:41 -0500
From: "James Moran" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: Re: [uuc] Turner Motorsport Team Takes Sebring Pole Position

I did a little more digging.

According to GermanCarFans, the RS6 will have 475hp (possibly with restrictors,
definitely with sealed boost control).
http://www.germancarfans.com/News.cfm?NewsID=2030312.001

Here are some series rules, but the Vehicle Technical Spec seems to be secret.
http://www.world-challenge.com/carfacts.html
http://www.sccapro.com/03rulebook/03-rules-worldchallenge.pdf
http://www.sccapro.com/03rulebook/03-PRR-apppendices.pdf

Regarding weight of the RS6 (and M3):

Car                        L   Wt   F Tire    FW     R Tire   RW
Audi S4 AWD  (twin turbo) 2.7 2850 275/35/18 11X18 275/35/18 11X18
Audi RS6 AWD (twin turbo) 4.3 3000 275/35/18 11X18 275/35/18 11X18
BMW M3 Coupe E46          3.2 2650 245/40/18 10X18 275/35/18 11X18
BMW 330 E46(supercharged) 3.2 2650 245/40/18 10X18 275/35/18 11X18

The M3s do have a decent weight advantage so they'll probably do better at tighter
tracks.  AFAIK, Sebring is a horsepower track.

Regarding Transmissions

3.13.1.4: Alternate transmissions must be approved on the VTS for each car. Any
car using an alternate transmission shall add 100 lbs. to the base weight. An
alternate transmission shall be defined as one using an alternate encasement, an
alternate type of gear engagement, alternate number of gears, or an alternate shift
pattern.

I wasn't able to find the definitive allowances, but I imagine the RS6 will have a
manual transmission for durability and is running at 3100 lbs minimum weight.  Does
WC have finishing penalty weights?

Jim Moran
'88 M6

- ----- Original Message -----
From: "ben keyes" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>
> and automatic transmissions ?
>
> Audi doesn't have a manual version of the car (never has except back to the old
> days) so I wonder what they're putting in them.
>
> I'm sure there is some sort of weight/power equlization that the SCCA tries to
> maintain, but you wonder if the overdog status in years past at some venues for
the
> S4 might get them into a poor starting point in terms of weight for the RS6.  I
> assume they're not running the S4 this year because the NA V8 production car isn't
> an easily tuned turbo like the RS6 & they want to hype the RS6 a bit.  I guess it
> would be sort of like BMW racing the M5, but they would have to put it on a
serious
> diet to make it light enough to be competitive.
>
> it will be interesting to see how the M3's do, but I think Moran might be right -
> not enough power to compete with the big boys.
>
>
>
> Ben
>

------------------------------

End of [uucdigest] V3 #6214
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